Chanson de l'Ange - The Angel's Song Bk #3 by Paisley Swan Stewart

Chanson de l’Ange by Paisley Swan Stewart is a 3 volume epic retelling of The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Drawing inspiration from The Opera Ghost in all his incarnations through book and film; and remaining faithful to key story elements from the classic original, the author weaves a haunting tale of Christine Daae’s companionship with the mysterious Angel of Music. 

In the concluding chapters of Chanson de l’Ange, Christine confronts the ghosts of both her past and present. As she performs the starring role in her Angel’s magnificent opera, she must brave a future where all those she loves are thrust into a soul stirring crescendo that will leave readers breathless.

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

After waiting five years to read the completion of Christine and Erik's tale I felt sick with nerves when I finally had The Angel's Song in my hands and prepared to crack the spine and start. 

I am almost shaking with excitement as I write this.

With all of my posts on Chanson de l'Ange I have found myself writing less than I have wanted to for fear of giving anything away...

I am not having this problem with the final book. My lack of coherency is caused by pure emotion and slack jawed wonder. 

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This was by no stretch of the imagination an easy read and more than once I would have found it quite easy to give up as the characters found themselves in situations that broke my heart but I forced my way through the ups and down.

The Angel's Song brings the darker side of Erik's personality to the for front and gives a whole knew meaning to having a split personality as Erik's darker side wars with the side that has been Christine's Angel since she was a child. Let's just say that out of the three novels I think that the Gothic element has never been stronger than in The Angel's Song as Erik and Christine's course rocks the lives of those around them. 

All of the loose ends that have been left hanging through the first two books and the mystery of Christine's mother's death is finally revealed as well as the skeletons that have been hinted at in Madame Giry's closet as Philip (Raoul's older brother) desperately searched for something to hold over her and kill his brother's love for Christine.

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The Angel's Song put my emotions through the wringer again and again and left me exhausted by the final page as the story of Christine and her Angel came to an end.

"Gah!!!!" *throws book across the room and huffs* "I'm sorry baby" *retrieves book and strokes cover lovingly*

@PaisleySwanS it was beautiful and heartbreaking and had that bitter/sweet quality that will haunt me for a while yet. Brava Bonnie :) x
— Alex (@BletheringBkwrm) October 27, 2013

Chanson de l'Ange - The Bleeding Rose Bk #2 by Paisley Swan Stewart

Chanson de l’Ange by Paisley Swan Stewart is a 3 volume epic retelling of The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Drawing inspiration from The Opera Ghost in all his incarnations through book and film; and remaining faithful to key story elements from the classic original, the author weaves a haunting tale of Christine Daae’s companionship with the mysterious Angel of Music. 

Book Two~The Bleeding Rose: continues Christine’s journey into an unorthodox attachment to her invisible teacher, and a bond of obsession and music is forged as her dark Angel methodically makes himself known. Through the illusory dreams of her adolescent desires, Christine will discover that not all angels have wings and not all devils are what they seem to be…for there are two sides to the Angel’s enchanted mirror.

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

All through book one Orphan in Winter, Erik was digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole as he tried harder to convince Christine (as well as himself) that he was her Angel of Music and now we get to read him digging himself out of the hole and dealing with the consequences.

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It was gorgeous to read the growing relationship between Erik and Christine now that she knew who and what Erik was. There were quite a few cringe worthy moments when I wanted to get hold of both Erik and Christine, give them a good shake and tell them to live happily ever after already

Needless to say, nothing in our poor Phantom's life has ever been easy, so why should getting the girl he loved be any different?

It was clear to see how much Erik longed for Christine and it was sad to see how he struggled with his own emotions as well as trusting Christine's.

Christine - of course - did not help matters but then again, her actions were understandable. She was trying to deal with her own feelings towards Erik and then coping with his reactions to her actions. I could see why she would go to Raoul as a safe place while still caring for and being attracted to Erik.

Madam Giry and Meg continue to be wonderful supporting cast and I am really glad that they have not been pushed into non-existence by the Erik/Raoul/Christine relationship.

---

The Bleeding Rose is in no way a let down from Orphan in Winter and Ms Stewart continues to delve into the depths of the characters minds without shying away from anything. 

Brava!

Chanson de l'Ange - Orphan in Winter by Paisley Swan Stewart - The Operas

I  thought it would be fun to do a wee post on the opera's that are performed in Orphan in Winter :)

The Magic Flute (Mozart)

Listen to that voice!

Faust (Charles Gounod)

Of course no Phantom Novel is compete without Faust!

Romeo and Juliet (Charles Gounod)

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?

There was also the mention of an Opera bases on the myth of Orpheus but I couldn't find that one.

But to finish of...

Danse Macabre

Chanson de l'Ange - Orphan in Winter Bk #1 by Paisley Swan Stewart

Chanson de l’Ange by Paisley Swan Stewart is a 3 volume epic retelling of The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. Drawing inspiration from The Opera Ghost in all his incarnations through book and film; and remaining faithful to key story elements from the classic original, the author weaves a haunting tale of Christine Daae’s companionship with the mysterious Angel of Music. 

Book One~Orphan in Winter: opens with the tragic death of ten year old Christine Daae’s father, ushering in dramatic changes when she is left in the care of Madame Louise Giry. Christine makes her new home in the The Paris Opera’s conservatory where she encounters a bohemian world of singers and dancers, and where she is visited by the unseen Angel of Music.

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

This serves as a wonderful introduction to the Chanson de l'Ange trilogy, allowing us to become closely acquainted with the character that we all know and love. 

We begin the book when Christine is ten years old and she is burying her father who has recently died. From then on in I was swept away into the magic of the Paris Opera House with its endless corridors, workshops, living quarters and changing rooms. There is a whole universe within the theatre and Ms Stewart's writing whisked me right into its angel and demon guarded walls and I never wanted to leave. 

The Orphan in Winter offers an insight into the characters I have never seen before where the Andrew Lloyd Webber version is concerned. How did the Phantom develop a relationship with the child Christine when she arrived at the Opera? What prompted him to even try? Just how did he keep up the deception for so long?

Erik's care and love for the child that Christine was, was touching and heart-wrenching at the same time. He has no idea how to handle having another human being to care for and who cares for him and his inner conflicts reflected this wonderfully. 

Dotted throughout are glimpses of poor Erik's past and what has happened to him in his life to make him the man he is. 

This beautiful introduction to the Chanson de l'Ange trilogy and its characters is nothing short of magical. 

Cinderella is Evil by Jamie Campbell

History is told from one person’s perspective. Sometimes they don’t get it right.
Ugly Stepsister Anna has wrongly been accused of being mean and evil. Now it is time she got the opportunity to tell her side of the story.
With Cinderella so perfect and wonderful, it is no wonder Anna feels ugly in comparison. Dealing with bullies, a grumpy mother and the death of her step-father, Anna is at her wits end.
When the Prince’s ball approaches, Anna is told she must find a husband to save the family fortune. Attending with her sisters, the sulky Prince Charming only has eyes for Cinderella.
With the burden of being the only one to unite her step-sister with the Prince, will Anna act as cupid? Or will she protect Cinderella from the arrogant Charming?
A charming twist to the story of Cinderella, told completely from the point of view of the Ugly Step-Sister.

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

This was a short but very entertaining read with the feel of a fairy-tale to it…well, it is Cinderella so I suppose that  doesn’t come as a surprise now that I think about it.

Thumbs Up!

I really enjoyed this. Basically it is what if Cinderella enjoyed playing the martyr just so that she had a reason to hate her step-family, and what if the wicked step-mother was the way she was because the death of her husband (Cinderella’s father) broke her heart.

Anna was a lovely person and I wanted to hug her when she went out of her way to look out for Cinderella when she thought she had ran away from the prince the night of the ball because he had done something to her.

Thumbs Down!

This book was WAY to short. I would love it if one day the author decided to add two hundred more pages and turn it into a full length novel.

All in All!

An enjoyable and very quick read. 

Through Phantom Eyes Book 1 - A Child's Guidance by Theodora Bruns Part 3

Erik is only a young boy when he first discovers his great passion for music. Just before his third birthday, he listens to his mother playing the piano, and with excitement, he realizes his life will always be filled with music. Sadly though, along with that powerful and comforting emotion, there is also sorrow. Erik's mother fears him because of his facial deformity, and he is forever scarred by her rejection. His father loves and protects him and tries to guide his young son's rapidly growing genius mind and disturbed heart. Nevertheless, Erik's soul begins to fill with loathing for the world that shuns him, causing him to wage a fierce battle between murderous hatred and compassionate love. Erik's temper erupts violently at times, endangering the lives of those around him as well as his own. Ultimately, he is abandoned and left alone to battle not only a world destined to cause him harm but also his tortured heart.

Discover the astonishing life of Erik, and journey into the private world and intimate thoughts of the man known as the Phantom of the Opera. Be with him as he struggles to balance his brilliant mind and tormented soul.

(Image and description from Goodreads.com)

Part 3...

I think my heart may have just broken for Erik… I wasn’t even able to write this immediately after finishing the last page. I had to think about it for a little while.

Anyway, onto the good stuff – come on – I may be TOTALLY going into this book in crazy detail but you didn’t honestly think I was going to give the ending away did you?

The major story that is explored in the last 100 pages or so of this book is the birth of Erik’s ‘other’ side. It is true that up until now he has been losing his temper but more than anything those fits would fall under childish tantrums. The anger that he feels now is the kind that totally alters his personality and switches off the side of him that is only a little boy. This is the side that is cold and ruthless and could kill if pushed to do such a thing.

I think we all have these two sides of us warring within – perhaps like the Jekyll and Hyde theory – and some of us can control it better than others, keeping ourselves in check. And although we may feel the burning whit hot anger bubbling inside us we hold ourselves back knowing that ultimately our reacting would not help.

But Erik is unable to hold this side of him back – and I don’t think that he really wants to either at some points. With the way that he is treated by others and then his added intelligence I think these factors make it harder for him to control especially as he sees it as a way of protecting himself from emotional and physical damage.

It was heart-breaking at times to see him striking out at his tormentors to only realise that he was harming his father at the same time. And that was the only thing he truly felt remorse for. It wasn’t his actions or the harm he was causing other people that he regretted; it was the harm he was causing his father - the one person who had always loved him unconditionally.

This thought from Erik really summed it up for me.

“…if they were going to be careless with my heart, then why should I be careful with their minds. Shouldn’t I be allowed something for the price I had to pay for my face?”

Like I have said that just sums it up for me. The way his mind is working, how he is feeling, everything comes out in that line.

But, despite his father’s love for Erik and Erik’s love for his father I couldn’t help but feel that sometimes his father went around things the wrong way. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it was almost like despite how hard they tried they were always on different levels. And yet there are times when Erik’s thoughts and actions are really that of a young child and not the genius that his mind is making him. One of my favourite bits is when Erik’s tells us of how ‘grown up and accomplished’ he feels when his father trusted him enough to let him work without supervision. I think that it is wonderful that despite how highly advanced Erik is mentally he still has the needs of a child to feel like they are receiving approval from adults they care for.

There are so many plot points and character changes in this book that it would be impossible to go into them all without typing the entire book out. Everything fits in seamlessly. There were no points that were raised that were done so for no reason. Everything slotted together and it is wonderful to see the bigger picture emerging as each mile stone in Erik’s life shapes him to be the person that will be the Opera Ghost.

The excitement of Erik’s first trip to the opera leaped of the page as he took in every single detail around him – I couldn’t help but smile as he likened all the men to penguins in their dress clothes and top hats (another childish moment coming through that I loved).

And there is such another big link to the future Erik that I nearly squealed in excitement. And it is far too good to give away. If you have already read this book let me know what you think I am talking about.

Having the novel bookended by Erik present and semi-present life is great and gives teasers to what the future books will be like that will be dealing with Christine and Erik – can’t wait to read them – and the journey there will be definitely worth the trip.

This book was an emotional roller-coaster of events. I very nearly got whip lash. I have never read a book before - that I can remember – that has captured all of my emotions so thoroughly. And have never had to put a book down because I thought my head or my heart where going to explode only to desperately need to pick it up again to know what was going to happen next, what would be the next thing to shape Erik, how he would react to the situation…

It captured me well and truly.

This was first posted to my Phantom Novel Reviews Blog 15th April 2011

Through Phantom Eyes Book 1 - A Child's Guidance by Theodora Bruns Part 2

Erik is only a young boy when he first discovers his great passion for music. Just before his third birthday, he listens to his mother playing the piano, and with excitement, he realizes his life will always be filled with music. Sadly though, along with that powerful and comforting emotion, there is also sorrow. Erik's mother fears him because of his facial deformity, and he is forever scarred by her rejection. His father loves and protects him and tries to guide his young son's rapidly growing genius mind and disturbed heart. Nevertheless, Erik's soul begins to fill with loathing for the world that shuns him, causing him to wage a fierce battle between murderous hatred and compassionate love. Erik's temper erupts violently at times, endangering the lives of those around him as well as his own. Ultimately, he is abandoned and left alone to battle not only a world destined to cause him harm but also his tortured heart.

Discover the astonishing life of Erik, and journey into the private world and intimate thoughts of the man known as the Phantom of the Opera. Be with him as he struggles to balance his brilliant mind and tormented soul.

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

Part 2...

Of course there would be some warped sense of religious thinking behind Anne's view of Erik. And you know what? I still don't feel sorry for her one little bit, in fact I just feel all the more impatient and angry with her.

If she had been raised to believe certain things she should have known how her mother would have reacted to her conceiving a child out of wedlock. So in my eyes that was her own thinking and problem that she had to deal with. Her inner conflict has nothing to do with Erik.

This once again makes me want to scream at her to act the adult. If she honestly believe - thanks to her own mother - that Erik's disfigurement is punishment for her indiscretion - or whatever you want to call it - then it is HER PROBLEM!! She should have showed some more control! Instead of punishing Erik!

OK, end of rant about Anne's moral standing. She makes me so angry!!

I loved how Erik's father reasoned with Erik on this point. Telling him that if he had truly been a punishment for their actions then there would be a lot more children that looked like him. I liked that. He didn't skim the facts, he told it as it was.

Still, back to the subject of Anne. She says that she is afraid of her son and that Erik becomes something 'evil'. Now, I am sorry, where she is concerned it is a never ending circle. He becomes angry and uncontrollable the way he does because she refuses to show him one little scrap of affection and so he responds in the only way his 'child like' side can think of. He hits out to hurt the one that is hurting him. I can understand that. But she is blind to this it would seem. Silly women!

And then there is the point where Erik, after finding out just how his mother has been 'suffering', starts to regret how he had treated her. Once again I will say. Children are in no way answerable for the sins (real or not) of their parents. It is their parents FULL responsibility to deal with the consequences! And it makes it all the more sadder because he is feeling remorse and yet she still thinks he is a monster and keeps a distance between them.

I could understand Erik's turning a deaf ear to the priest who came to visit and 'explain' things I suppose - but since he wasn't listening we don't know lol. He had seen what religious views had lead people to think about him and he turned himself off.

The beginnings of his need to be in control of people in also brought up, which is interesting as this will obviously be something that sticks with him throughout his life even when he becomes the Opera Ghost.

And I shall finish this post on a happy level.

Once again I am brought back to Erik's show if childishness. Erik's father takes him to his work site and once he got there...

"I began slowly twirling in circles, taking in everything I saw and smelled"

Just as I remember spinning around new places to get a look at everything when I was excited!

Wonderful!



This was first posted to my Phantom Novel Reviews Blog 10th April 2011

NaNoWriMo Planning! Shout Outs #3

No podcast to recommend today =)

This year is the first year I am going to be answering a whole bunch of character questions so I know what makes my main character tick before I get to a sticky situation in my story-line. So I was googling like mad looking for character charts or check lists.

Here are a few of the ones that I found.

Character Interview Sheet
Character Creation Form
Character Sheet

Those are just a few of the ones I found but if you google 'creating a character' or 'character sheets' you'll see that there are a whole bunch ore out there.

I don't think I will be using them as a fixed exercise but I'll definitely be using them as a basis for building my character this year =)

Through Phantom Eyes Book 1 - A Childs Guidance by Theodora Bruns Part 1

Erik is only a young boy when he first discovers his great passion for music. Just before his third birthday, he listens to his mother playing the piano, and with excitement, he realizes his life will always be filled with music. Sadly though, along with that powerful and comforting emotion, there is also sorrow. Erik's mother fears him because of his facial deformity, and he is forever scarred by her rejection. His father loves and protects him and tries to guide his young son's rapidly growing genius mind and disturbed heart. Nevertheless, Erik's soul begins to fill with loathing for the world that shuns him, causing him to wage a fierce battle between murderous hatred and compassionate love. Erik's temper erupts violently at times, endangering the lives of those around him as well as his own. Ultimately, he is abandoned and left alone to battle not only a world destined to cause him harm but also his tortured heart.

Discover the astonishing life of Erik, and journey into the private world and intimate thoughts of the man known as the Phantom of the Opera. Be with him as he struggles to balance his brilliant mind and tormented soul.

(Image and description from Goodreads.com)

Part 1...

I was intending to do just one post on this book once I had read it - after all, I thought that I couldn't really find all that much to say about a 300(ish) page book. I was so wrong! Right now I am on page 123 and I am just finding to many points that I am wanting to bring out I have decided to post an early post...

On a side note, the layout of this nook is brilliant. You see, I am a scribbler. I love to make notes in margins, to underline favourite passages and just make a book MINE by totally scrawling all over it *cough* Respect your books folks *cough* Anyway, the margins of this book are great for that very purpose. They are huge especially at the tops and bottoms of the pages - lovely big gaps.

Moving on.

I loved how the book opened with Erik's present (or semi-present) life, such as the first time that he ever saw Christine.

Oh, and talking of Christine, there are definitely extra brownie points due to this author for having a blonde, Leroux Christine and for having no weird similarities between Christine and Anne - Erik's mother. Thank you for that, because that was one thing I just found a touch too weird in 'Phantom' and unnecessary.

At the beginning, while Erik was haunting the theater and tricking Joseph and the ballet girls, I got a real feel for his sense of mischief that put a bit of a daft smile on my face and I loved! It didn't start of dead serious, with him being left alone in the bowels on the opera house or dying of love or any other of the down and depressing beginnings there could have been, and this was very refreshing!

Ms Bruns seems to have hit the nail on the head with having Erik a mixture of a genius and yet have him with the needs of a child. He possesses the naturally curious personality of a child but then partnered with his intellect he has the tendency to obsess over things until he has found out their secrets.

I think that Erik's father was wonderful. He sees his son as just that - his son. He is different sure, but Erik is his child and he loves him. Their interactions with each other are loving and caring and his father's teachings will no doubt stick with Erik through out the course of the books. Even though at some points I have felt like boxing the fathers ears and telling him to stop lecturing and let his son be a frightened little boy and hide in his room if he likes - but I suppose that would defeat the object. But I do feel like he is pressuring and pushing him a little too much at bits.

I was reserving my judgment of Erik's mother - as I know that interpretations of her differ from phantom book to phantom book as she seems to be a favourite character to shape...But right now I REALLY REALLY don't like her. Grow up women. Act the adult and treat your son like he actually matters WOMEN.

I couldn't help but applaud Erik when he 'waged war' so to speak on his mother. You go Erik!

The most heartbreaking thing about the relationship between Erik and his mother - so far that I can see - is that, although he keeps telling himself that nothing she can do can hurt him anymore he is actually lying to himself. He is continually seeking reassurance from his father and his constant reminders to himself that she can't hurt him just proves the opposite to me.

Erik's childish moments were wonderful and very touching at points. An example of this is when he hopes that his expected sibling will be a little girl so that she will be beautiful like his mother because if it was a boy he didn't want it to have his face. I wanted to cry at the show of his tender heart and childish reasoning. And then when he asked his father if he was missing his nose because he hadn't been 'finished yet'. Oh I wanted to sob for the little soul.

At the end of the day despite being a genius, Erik is still a child and like any child the more he is told not to do something the more he wants to and he has a child's inquisitiveness. So when his actions lead to his mother flipping and Erik becoming ill it leads to an argument between Erik's father and mother. Now, I am sorry, but Erik is a CHILD and his mother has to take responsibility for some things and I don't care if his mother was responsible directly or indirectly no child should be made to feel like they are responsible for arguments/raised voices or whatever between their parents. And the fact that he is just THINKING that he wants his father to be angry at him and not his mother just makes me want to cry again. Sorry I'm not expressing myself very well... This just shows to me another epic FAIL on his mothers part. Especially since he is wanting to take the brunt of his fathers anger when his mother had been an iceberg to him. There are some things that a child just shouldn't have to accept the blame for and the actions of 'mature' adults are one of those things. But then I suppose he isn't a 'normal' child. But I can still be angry at his mother all I want to be! And his father finally yelled at his mother so I got a lot of enjoyment out of that too *evil grin*.

I will point out here that I am a pacifist by nature guys OK. I don't go around screaming at people. But when it comes to mistreating children in ANY way, I tend to get very very emotional.

Anyway, I had better leave it there or there won't be anything left for me to talk about once I have finished it. I am thoroughly enjoying this take on Erik's younger years! 'Phantom' by Susan Kay was all well and good but having over 300 pages dedicated just to his young years is fantastic, and the different emotions this is bringing out in me just makes it all the better.

This was first posted to my Phantom Novel Reviews Blog 10th April 2011

NaNoWriMo Planning! Shout Outs #2

I have another podcast for you today!

This time it is Grammar Girl.

This is a podcast I could probably do with listening to religiously but I dip in and out of it when the moods strikes me.

The episodes are pretty short and well tagged so if there is just 1 thing you aren't sure about you can scan through the titles and find it. It deals with things from spelling to sentence structure.

www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl

Chanson se l'Ange by Paisley Swan Stewart

So this is more of a shout-out than a review because I a just so EXCITED!

Chanson de l'Ange - a series of 3 books based on The Phantom of the Opera is in sight and due for release at the end of October.

Book 1- Orphan in Winter
Book 2 - The Bleeding Rose
Book 3 - The Angel's Song

I have been dying to get stuck into a review of this story since I read 'The Bleeding Rose' but I have held off as the author was making revisions etc and now the story is going to be three books instead of two.

The Bleeding rose was a truly beautiful and touching Phantom novel and I can't wait to get stuck into it :)

There is also going to be a CD/Soundtrack that will go along with the novel - how COOL right?

And if the Bleeding Rose (a song from the CD that can be bought now) is anything to go by it will be just as stunning as I am sure the novels are going to be.




You can find out more about the novels at the website here

NaNoWriMo Panning! Shout Outs #1

Its OCTOBER!!!!!!!! (you know, just in case that is news to anyone)

So, as it is NaNoWriMo next month *happy dance happy dance* I know loads of participants are planning out their stories and getting their ideas together.

So am I!

Instead of having reviews this month I thought I would shout-out some links that I have come across/been using in planning my story for this year and just some useful bits and pieces.

~~~~~~~~~~

Does anyone like listening to podcasts?

I love them.

A couple of years ago I stumbled across the podcast 'Writing Excuses' which is hosted by Mary Robinette Kowal, Brandon Sanderson, Howard Tayler and Dan Wells. This is a great podcast. Each episode is 15 minutes long and is packed to the gills with information on writing. They also include a reading/listening recommendation and a writing prompt. 

They are onto the 8th season right now (you can still download the previous seasons too) and you can find them on Itunes or their website writingexcuses.com

This is one of my favourite podcasts next to Books on the Nightstand and The Readers :)

Phantom by Susan Kay

This post contains SPOILERS!!!! Like ENDING SPOILERS (I got a little bit ranty) so if you don't want the book SPOILED for you STOP HERE!!

A child is born... His mother's only gift is a mask. Precocious and gifted, he will live friendless and alone. taunted and abused, he will flee, only to find himself caged again-as a freak in a Gypsy carnival. A brilliant outcast... the world is his home. Filled with bitter rage, he will kill to escape, becoming a stonemason's apprentice in Rome... a dark magician at the treacherous Persian court... and finally, the genius behind the construction of the Paris Opera House and the labyrinthine world below. Lacking one thing only: A woman's love. Cloaked in secrets, his power complete, he will see the exquisite Christine and for the first time know what it means to love. Obsessed, he will bring her into his eerie subterranean world, driven to posses her heart and soul. Phantom--A haunting story of power and darkness, of magic and murder, of sensuality and betrayal, and ultimately, the unforgettable story of a man and a woman and the eternal quality of love.
(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

dun, dun, duunnnnn.

So, all in all I found this book very enjoyable to read - if totally depressing, but I suppose I can forgive that since it isn't supposed to be a happy novel anyway.

Thumbs Up!
This book is an imaginary take on what Erik's life could have been like mostly before he became the Phantom of the Opera. Following him through from his birth to his death, During his friendship with the Persian and his attraction to Christine.

The book is told from various view points. Erik, Christine, Erik's mother, the Persian and the master stonemason that Erik studies under for a time. Each different person gives us a unique glance into how they view Erik and what they think of him which I found far more enjoyable than if it had been told just through one persons eyes.

It was pretty cool how Erik came to have a house under the Opera – since according to this plot he was actually helping Garnier build it. And then there is also the reason for the salary that he demands from the managers which was all tied in.

He (The Phantom) is not the youthful, sexy Phantom of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical, he is the skeletal, smelling of death, no nose, Erik that Leroux told us of. With emotional and mental baggage to fill a jumbo jet.

Thumbs Down!
But...I do have some issues with this book. Mainly with the way it ended, but a couple that carry on throughout the novel.

*SPOILERS*

The first problem that I had was Erik's addictions brought on from his time in Persia. Now I get that he is troubled and needs to mask his pain and all that jazz but to me I thought it wasn't really needed especially since it throws out the time that Christine spends with him when he kidnaps her the first time. She basically ends up being his nurse after he has what I can only guess is a heart attack.


*BIG MAJOR UBER SPOILER*

My one major issue with this book, the issue that makes all the others pale in comparison is Christine becoming pregnant with HIS CHILD!!.

Now I will say that I have no problem at all with Christine having the Phantom's child - no problem at all...IF IT MAKES SENSE! In my mind this makes no sense at all, it seems to have just been thrown in there for the sake of it when I don't think it was needed. After all, I have just had 400-500 pages of Phantomy amazingness and then wham, I have this thrown at me.

This happens when Christine returns to the Phantom to give him an invitation to her wedding (he made her promise before he let the Persian, Raoul and her go). She goes to his home and he is kind of, sort of, DYING! What did she do. Take advantage of him or something?

And just to add another level of strangeness when Christine and Raoul left the Phantom's lair, Erik had seemed to settle himself on viewing Christine as his daughter. Okay, I can deal with that - I think. And then the next thing you know she's pregnant. That totally threw me for a loop. Couldn't the author just pick one type of relationship and STICK with it.

And then this leads me to my next gripe. Her cryptic way of telling Raoul. She tells him that she wants to put the wedding of for a month so that he (Raoul) can be sure than he forgives her. WHAT!? How the heck was Raoul supposed to know what she was talking about. And what is even sadder is that when she goes into labour he thinks that the baby is premature and is worried about losing both of them and the doctor tells him the baby is full term and that is when everything basically falls into place in his mind. SO SAD.

So yeah, by the end I really don't like Christine (not that I liked her all that much anyway) and I am feeling very sorry for Raoul (who I normally want to Punjab lasso as soon as I see his name).

And now to my last ...problem. (Alright, so it's not my last problem but it is the only other one I am going to bore you with.

**SPOILER**
CHRISTINE DIES!!
What is with this book? There was NO NEED for her to die. What was the point? It didn't accomplish anything other than to leave Raoul raising a child that he knows isn't his and not really minding. I could have understood it if a lovey, dovey, slushy, supernatural element has been thrown in where Christine and Erik are finally together or something like that but...but...this makes NO SENSE!!!! Well to me at least.

All in All

So my final opinion on this book. I liked it - even if it was a bit depressing - and if I ignore the take on what happens between Erik and Christine and just focus on Erik's like before the Opera House I like it even more.

A wonderful read until the last...50 pages.

(This was originally posted on my Phantom Novel Reviews blog in February 2011)

Maskerade by Terry Pratchett

There are strange goings-on at the Opera House in Ankh-Morpork. A ghost in a white mask is murdering, well, quite a lot of people, and two witches (it really isn't wise to call them "meddling, interfering old baggages"), or perhaps three, take a hand in unraveling the mystery.

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

I loved this book, but for some reason I can’t think of a lot to say about it…Weird.

Thumbs Up!

It is such a fun read with some of the best rounds ups of opera that I have ever read and some of the most brilliant twists.

We have Christine who, although being gorgeous, just can’t sing and is as dim as a broken torch.

Agnes – who has a lovely personality, nice hair and CAN sing, but unfortunately just doesn’t look the part (I love Agnes).

The rat catcher who is reincarnated as a rat – karma really sucks!

Two witches - hoping to soon be a trio once again – ready to solve the mystery at The Opera House.

A ghost who can be in two places at a time – or can he.

And lots more. 

As I said this is such a fun read and kept me turning the pages. Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax jumped out the page at me with their larger than life approach at things. And their side story had me giggling like crazy – Nanny Ogg’s “The Joye of Snacks” isn’t an ordinary cook book.

Agnes’s practical attitude to life was great to read along with her attempts at being more…flighty with her alter ego Perdita. I would rather have a heroine like Agnes over a Perdita any day.  

Thumbs Down!

I can’t actually think of anything I found disappointing about this book…Wow. That does’t happen very often.

All in All

Terry  Pratchett is one of my all-time favourite authors. It is true that some of his books miss the mark for me where laughs are concerned but I am glad to say that this is not one of those books. This hit all the right places and had me sniggering from beginning to end. 

Agnes on Christine - Not liking Christine would be like not liking small fluffy animal. And Christine was just like a small fluffy animal. A rabbit, perhaps. It was certainly impossible for her to get a whole idea into her head in one go. She had to nibble it into manageable bits.

Nanny Ogg on Opera - Well, basically there are two sorts of opera,' said Nanny, who also had the true witch's ability to be confidently expert on the basis of no experience whatsoever. 'There's your heavy opera, where basically people sing foreign and it goes like "Oh oh oh, I am dyin', oh, I am dyin', oh, oh, oh, that's what I'm doin'", and there's your light opera, where they sing in foreign and it basically goes "Beer! Beer! Beer! Beer! I like to drink lots of beer!", although sometimes they drink champagne instead. That's basically all of opera, reely

Review - Holiday Heartbreak (Dork Diaries Book #6) by Rachel Renee Russell

It's the biggest dance of the year and Nikki Maxwell is hoping her crush, Brandon, wants to be her date. But time is running out. What if he doesn't want to go with her? Or worse - what if he ends up going with Mackenzie?!!

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

Why is Dork Diaries doing this to me? Why?

Thumbs Up!

The friendship between Zoey, Chloe and Nikki is just as strong as ever and Chloe and Zoey continue to be supportive and loving towards Nikki through all of her drama – on a wee side note I would love to have a book from their side of things (and it could touch on what they really think about Nikki and her pathological lying).

SPOILER – Mackenzie (evil-teen-villainess) ends up rooting through a dumpster.

Thumbs Down!

By the third time (it could have been the last too) she said ‘thingie’ I was ready to scream. By the first time (for this book) she once again fibbed to her ‘BFFs’ I was ready to drag her out of the book and yell at her. Because, yeah, telling porkies has totally worked well for her up to this point. Not. It stresses her out.

The majority of the girl/boy drama between Nikki and Brandon come mainly from a series of misunderstandings and Nikki not letting the poor guy finish a sentence.

All in All

I have loved the Dork Diaries books since I picked up the first one but the past two books have just been lacking that spark I loved so much in the previous books. Still enjoyable but I am becoming very irritated with them very easily and I don’t know if it is a change in me or a change in the books.

I don’t feel like Nikki is moving on at all as a character.

Has anyone else read these books? If you have I would love to know if it is me or the books. How have you found them?

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

The Phantom of the Opera lives under a famous opera house. A mere chorus girl, Christine Daae, becomes, under his guidance, a well known singer with a beautiful voice. But her old child hood sweetheart, the Vicount Raoul de Changy, has also entered the picture. The past comes back to haunt her, the future ahead is uncertain, and the present is undecided. Who will win the heart of Christine?; the handsome, rich Raoul or the masked Angel of Music? A story of romance, murder, sacrifice and sadness, this riveting, seductive tale will keep your emotions high until the very last page of the shocking conclusion.

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

The Phantom of the Opera is one of my favourite books – it gets read at least once a year – and yet every time I read it I don’t know why.

Thumbs Up!

What I love most about this book isn’t actually the novel itself but it is the countless stories and versions it has prompted others to write and create.

There are so many gaps left in the novel that it is the perfect fodder for authors to fill in with their own ideas.

That being said what I really enjoy time after time in reading this are the truly random parts. The rat catcher for instance with is head of fire (because he holds a lamp up to his face) or the men in the cellars shovelling coal into the boilers who to Christine appear to be demons stoking the fires of hell.

Erik – The Phantom of the Opera – comes across as a proper maniac who threatens to destroy the opera at the busiest time of the day if Christine refuses to marry him, which I loved. After all the guy is crazy and what he was going to do was not watered down to a ‘I’ll kill the boy you love’

This is also one of the few books that has ever made me cry.

Thumbs Down!

My main issues with this book are with the characters.

Raoul is anything but a dashing romantic lead. He comes across as a whining boy who we are told has the complexion of a girl. What I hate most about him though is that he all but accuses Christine of sleeping around. Yip, that’s a sure fire way to the heart of the woman you love. Not!

All in All

This book will always have a special place in my heart but at the end of the day my view of it has been dulled by the many (better written) novels that have been based on it.

Review - Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

Jerusha Abbott grew up in an orphanage but was sent to college by a mysterious benefactor she calls Daddy-Long-Legs. In college she falls in love with a young man who wants to marry her, but she refuses because she is an orphan. Finally, after Jerusha--now Judy--graduates, she asks to meet her benefactor.

(Image and descriptions from Goodreads.com)

Really enjoyable! I tried to read this book when I was in secondary school and it just didn’t click. But after watching the film (with Fred Astaire ;)), the anime and listening to the musical – lovely musical by the way – I decided to give it another shot.

I loved it.

Thumbs Up!

The whole book was wonderful fun and just what I needed at the time. Judy is refreshingly honest about what she thinks of things and this may seem silly but what I loved most was Judy being ‘friends’ with someone she isn’t really all that fond of. I don’t know about you but I could definitely relate to that.

The book covers a four year span of Judy’s life through college all told in letters and I didn’t once get bored or want the writing to change.

Thumbs Down!

The only thing I would have loved to have seen was a chapter from Jarvis’ side of things – mainly to see what was going on in his head when he made certain decision and what he thought about Judy’s reaction to them.

All in All!

A lovely story that as 187 pages is not all that long. Definitely worth a read.

“The trouble with college is that you are expected to know such a lot of things you’ve never learned”

Deception by Shirley Yoshinaka

Following the Paris opera house disaster, Erik, the charismatic and disfigured man known as the Phantom, settled into a secluded home on the outskirts of London. He resigned himself to a life of solitude, but two years later, fate introduced him to a young woman who reawakened his emotions. Although Mellie was a gifted composer, no one took her work seriously. She recognized Erik's brilliance and was desperate for his help. Drawn to both the man and his talent, she made a bold proposition, and he accepted. Together, they forged a unique partnership that became the talk of London society. But when Erik's past returned to haunt him, he could lose everything he'd gained in his new life - including Mellie. Deception is a tale of loss, healing, and ultimately of love.

(Image and Blurb from Goodreads.com)

This was the first Phantom adaptation that I ever read and I am so glad that it was. Although it was no retelling in the way that it has Christine and Erik admitting their undying love for each other. It is a sequel (more of the musical I would say) that has a wonderful heroine. 

Thumbs Up!

The change of setting. We are no longer in Paris, Erik has escaped to London England. 

It is obvious from the musical that Erik has a temper that rears it's head a few times (you know...killing people...) and this does not vanish in the book. It comes through, as does his violent tendencies. The one thing that stands out though is that he wants to change, he does not want to be the man that Christine called a monster, or the man who killed people without thought.

When Mellie enters his life he strives to be a gentlemen and even though he slips up she accepts that there is that side to him and she does not run.

Mellie and Erik end up sharing Erik's home when he is helping her with her music and writing. Though they are living in a purely business capacity people are under the impression that Mellie is Erik's niece and there are more than a few cute moments between them during this time. 

My favourite bit has to be when Mellie is attacked by a man and when she returns home she doesn't want to sleep alone so she shares a bed with Erik.

"Do you make it a habit of sleeping in your clothes?" she asked, her tone teasing.
"Only when there's a beautiful woman in my bed that I'm intent on not ravishing."

I found that very cute, coming from the dark and charismatic Phantom of the Opera.

The other major factor I enjoyed was that though there is a bad guy within the story Erik continually holds himself back from becoming the person he was in Paris and unleashing his violent side.

Thumbs Down!
I really have nothing I didn't like about this book.

I would have loved for it to have bee longer but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

All in All!
A wonderful first novel to read when it comes to Phantom sequels and non Erik/Christine relationships.

A light and enjoyable read that I zipped through. 

The Bad Beginning (Book #1 in A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket

In this first book, readers are introduced to the unfortunate Baudelaire children -- 14-year-old Violet, 12-year-old Klaus, and their infant sister, Sunny -- when they learn they've just been orphaned by a terrible house fire.

The executor of the Baudelaire estate -- a phlegm-plagued banker named Mr. Poe - sends the children to live with a distant relative: a conniving and dastardly villain named Count Olaf, who has designs on the Baudelaire fortune. Count Olaf uses the children as slave labor, provides horrid accommodations for them, and makes them cook huge meals for him and his acting troupe, a bunch of odd-looking, renegade good-for-nothings. When the children are commandeered to appear in Count Olaf's new play, they grow suspicious and soon learn that the play is not the innocent performance it seems but rather a scheme cooked up by Olaf to help him gain control of the children's millions. 

(Image and Description from Goodreads.com)

Eeeeeeaaaa…yeah. I really don’t know where to go with this one. I was giving it a try to see if A Series of Unfortunate Events could take the place of The How to Train Your Dragons books once my self-control snaps and I read the last available book.

Yip. That won’t be happening.

Thumbs Up!

There was only one thing that I really liked about this book and it was the bond between the Baudelaire siblings. These were children who would do anything for each other.

Thumbs Down!

It was the adults in this book that irritated me beyond belief and seriously got up my nose. Mr Poe – the banker who was a FRIEND of the children’s parents and the executor of their will – failed epically at protecting the children and then when they did go to him with their problems he does one of the ‘How to Be a Stupid Adult 101’ things and goes and tells the baddie that they had talked to him. IDIOT man.

And then there is the judge who lives next door to Count Olaf. Let’s just say that she could be WAY more perceptive.

Oh, and one more strike against Mr Poe. Dude, Count Olaf is so unsubtle about wanting the Baudelaire fortune and he makes one ‘Violet can’t access it until she comes of age’ comment and then just lets it go over his head…Yip…

All in All!

Not my cup of tea at all – although I do have a friend who read all of them and loved them. I slogged through it but I think I will be finding another series to replace How to Train Your Dragon. I can see how children would enjoy this series and it is brilliant for introducing the meaning of new words but it just didn't click with me.

Any suggestions for another series would be greatly appreciated. I am thinking of giving The Spiderwick Chronicles a try.